Planning a first birthday.... I was almost a brimming with excitement! I wanted to do something special that everyone would enjoy and remember. Feeling as blessed as i am i wanted to do something that would also be a blessing to other people as well!
Invites first !
Our two options for invitations. I simply printed them at home on card stock paper!
Rather than having guests bring gifts we chose a local charity to benefit. Each guest was asked to bring diapers or wipes for the pregnancy resource center in town.
Drake's first birthday party... what to do, what to do... then i saw a "wanted" poster invitation on ETSY.com and knew my answer. I knew for sure that i wanted to do something to benefit the community. The pregnancy resource center our church helps support was an immediate thought. So i printed up 2 options for invites (photograph and invitation my Kara miller photography in Owasso OK on location at Coyote ridge stable in Claremore OK).
Location, location, location... sounds like a real estate commercial! Even though Coyote ridge was not in a central location i was totally in LOVE! I found their website by chance and loved their mission! basically, is a mission of kids, the lord and horses! They have "therapy horses" which are specially trained horses to work with disabled kids. In the summer, they host events for children such as camps, wienie roasts, hay rack rides and lessons. Sandy Schiebel the owner was very warm, laid back and helpful.
Next- CAKE!!!! what kind? who will make it??? i recently lost my long time "cake lady". Then I met Alica Ashe-Hodges (cakesbyalicia) on facebook at a craft fair. We selected hot fudge sundae flavor... yummy!
here is a preview of the smash cake she made for his first birthday photo shoot as well as the party cakes.
1st b day portrait by Trisha Jimenez-tgphotography Collinsville OK (baby first year plan).
just love the "up cycled" bib from baby Wilde shop on etsy.com.
also custom "1" cowboy candle by rustic horse on etsy.com.
decorations a diy printable/editable kit from etsy (also doubled as party decorations).
Let me say one thing about a western party with ponies... all of the kiddo's will RSVP!
Here are a few pictures of the party... basically each child got a hat, bandanna and a badge. (total cost for these favors from oriental trading co was less than $3 per child!)
Alicia (cakesbyalicia) does every aspect of cake selection online. I simply emailed her idea's and she came up with this wonderful cake. Never did i dream a person could make something like this!
Who would have guessed cotton balls stuffed in fondant kept these boots looking great!
Party favors and most decorations from oriental trading company. "Wild West Cowboy" decorations (etsy). Printed and assembled at home text was editable with name and age.
Marshmallows dipped in chocolate and rolled in graham cracker crumbs... super easy!
Construction paper horse shoe "confetti" on tables. I cut out so many black paper horse shoes not knowing exactly what i would do with them. This seemed to work out well. Drake's little western shirt i found accidentally on facebook "lil britches western wear".
Drake getting to meet Rudy the therapy horse. Its a good thing he is a "working" horse used to "unpredictable" children!
Sweet friend Shel modeling her hat, bandanna and star (all of which less than $3 per child).
big sister Sydney likes learning to take care of the horse much better than her brother.
Sandy helps Drake keep his cowboy boots on his feet!
Drake was a natural at horse back riding... or at least he put up with it!
All of the kiddo's (even Drake!) enjoyed being led on a horse back ride around the ol' corral.
Sydney-fast finding her way to negotiate horse back riding lessons.
Both of Drake's older sisters- Sydney & Taylor showing the pony some love.
smash cake time! i bought a yard of bandanna print fabric and basically laid it over the high chair to change it look for less than $5. The remaining decoration including a plastic mat on the floor (not pictured) saying "birthday buckaroo" was about $6 on oriental trading co.
Enjoying Hot Fudge Sundae cake with mommy & daddy.
Clothes line decoration like one I saw on pintrest. I took some twine rope from hobby lobby and used clothes pins to pin pictures of Drake.
Really loving the Hot Fudge Sundae cake!
Wanted : the birthday bandit!!!
Other children's activities (which we really did not have much time for!) included- DIY "wanted posters" and face painting. I got the wanted posters free online and printed them out. At the party I had them available along with crayons for self portraits. Most kids took their wanted posters home as party favors.
Taylor who is Drake's oldest sister did face painting for the kiddos. I bought a simple kit with 4 colored face painting "crayons" at a craft store. Later i will "up cycled" the crayons for other parties and Halloween. Just love that "up cycling"....
A special thanks to Zane Yost photography/ Tulsa photographic group (can be found on facebook) for taking pictures of our special day! I was nervous about kiddos, big animals and keeping people entertained. He made my life easy for the day and I am totally thankful to call him a friend.
What an amazing theme! I simply loved the cake designs. God bless this cute little kid. I am also looking for rental spaces for parties as it is my son’s birthday next month and I am glad I came across this post because it is very different and I really liked it.
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